A heartfelt thank you to everyone here

Submitted by Crazytimes on Sat, 08/27/2022 - 12:50am

I'm mostly just a lurker here, but occasionally I post comments. I don't really know how to describe myself politically. I grew up in a Midwestern historically very "Red state". My grandfather however, was very opinionated.One of his most memorable quotes was: "The only people who vote Republican are rich ones and dumb poor ones."
I was always taught that voting was not just a privilege or a right, but a duty. I took it very seriously.

I'm probably full of shit but I feel like I look at things differently because I'm a Gen x child of a Gen x parent.

I have to be honest, there's a big debate over student loan forgiveness and it has been a revelation for me. I don't understand how people could be mad about this. But then I do.

Identity politics are killing this country. People agree on so many things and they get hung up on something that's promoted by corporate news. And you seriously cannot say anything to these people that will change their mind. Not a single thing.

I just don't understand how people can turn a blind eye to perpetual government lying. Why Trump why this moment? I just don't get it. I'm not going to argue that Trump's not terrible. He is ....
so are the rest of them. So why this time?

Tags:

#My Story #ForceTheVote #HealthcareForAll

Vote

Comments

Submitted by janis b on Sat, 08/27/2022 - 1:58am

"And you seriously cannot say anything to these people that will

change their mind. Not a single thing".

Not now maybe, maybe not ever, but I’m glad your adding your voice.

Submitted by Lookout on Sat, 08/27/2022 - 9:38am

Welcome...

It is always nice to see the community grow and add new voices. You ask, Why now?

To my mind it is the springing of the great reset trap. The current attack on farmers is a big clue. Henry Kissinger famously said, “Who controls the food supply controls the people; who controls the energy can control whole continents; who controls money can control the world.”
“All we need to know about Schwab is he’s a disciple of Kissinger.”
—Steve Bhaerman

Klaus plans are underway to do just that and most of the western world's leadership are graduates of his "young global leaders program".

Schwab: “And I have to say, when I mention our names like Angela Merkel, even Vladimir Putin and so on, they all have been Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum. But what we are very proud of now is the young generation like Prime Minister Trudeau, President of Argentina and so on, is that we penetrate the cabinets. So yesterday I was at a reception for Prime Minister Trudeau and I know that half of this cabinet or even more than half of this cabinet are actually Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum.”

Gergen: “And that’s true in Argentina as well.”
Schwab: “It’s true in Argentina and it’s true in France now, I mean with the President, with Young Global Leaders.”

https://ratical.org/PandemicParallaxView/KlausSchwabPenetrateCabinets.html

As bad as the Ukrainian conflict is, the silver lining maybe that these plans are being derailed for all but the western world. Sadly it appears we remain its victims.

I grew up as a yellow dog democrat, but awoke from the dream a decade or two ago. Both parties are corporate shills pushing war and profit over people. They use identity issues to divide us and act as though they have different goals.

Ironically the targeting of Trump by the deep state makes me more more sympathetic to him. I managed to avoid TDS (Trump derangement syndrome). Although I'm not a fan, at least he didn't put us on a trajectory of nuclear war with Russia and China as has the Joementia administration.

So glad to have you aboard. Join in as you see fit!

—

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sat, 08/27/2022 - 10:26am

Welcome to the blue blog

As for why Trump now I keep going back and forth with he is a patsy just playing a roll for the elite's agenda and to get us divided and fighting that one side is better than the other. We now have red and blue MAGAs.

Hillary started the election campaign with accusing Trump of being a Russian asset and she provided no evidence that he was. But to this day blue MAGA still believe that he was and that Putin had something on him that made Trump do his bidding.

Now blue MAGA has decided and again with no evidence that Trump is a traitor to the country and is responsible for the CIA losing their undercover agents around the world. All it takes anymore is for some media patsy to take stenography from the deep state and slighly hint that Trump did something bad and it’s become truth.

Just remember that Trump alone didn’t put himself in office. A powerful group of money’d interests backed him and then got their people into his administration. If Trump was truly an American first type guy and wanted to bring the troops home why would he have appointed John effing Bolton again? Or any of the other worst of the worst that wants America to go forth and conquer? Pelosi bitched about Trump daily and said that he was a dangerous person but then she gave him everything he put in front of her. Wow way to stand against him Nancy!

And for gawd’s sake if we did finally get rid of Trump why have democrats kept him in the news every fcking day since he left office? One-six has played out so now we have classified papers-gate.

Just my 2 cents and I could be wrong, but everything seems too fishy to me.

If you’re interested here’s the New York slimes article on how Trump may have put intelligence assets at risk.

In what may be the most shocking story to emerge from the entire Mar-a-Lago document scandal, The New York Times is reporting that officials at intelligence agencies fear that among the classified information Donald Trump stole was details on U.S. assets embedded in foreign countries. The names, locations, and even the existence of such assets is among the most guarded secrets of the nation. But something mysterious has been happening over the last few years, with an unusual number of foreign sources being killed or arrested.

In the past, officials have worried that documents leaked by outlets like WikiLeaks might, either purposely or intentionally, reveal the identity of U.S. sources, putting their lives at risk. But now, intelligence agencies have a greater concern: A man who has a horde of stolen documents, connections to numerous hostile governments, and a frequently expressed disdain for both sources and the intelligence community. Put it all together, and you get one of the most amazing front pages in recent years.

It’s being treated as gospel on the Orange Man Bad blog. The 1st link includes a link to an article that states unequivocally that Russia made Trump an asset 40 years ago. No evidence, but plenty of hearsay. Tried in the press and found guilty. Let’s lock him up without a trial. And yay they got a dig in their arch-villain Assange. Let’s lock him up too.

ETA the last link has a Russian speaking Ukrainian lady doing bad things. This story just popped up a few days ago.

—

Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Sat, 08/27/2022 - 5:31pm

Hola Snoops

@snoopydawg

The New York Times is reporting that officials at intelligence agencies fear that among the classified information Donald Trump stole was details on U.S. assets embedded in foreign countries. The names, locations, and even the existence of such assets is among the most guarded secrets of the nation. But something mysterious has been happening over the last few years, with an unusual number of foreign sources being killed or arrested.

They say that like it's a bad thing. I'm not for folks getting killed but we have some of the nastiest, sleaziest lowest of the low runnning around trying to foment coups, assassinate government personnel, scientists and the like and generally engaging in terrorism, murder and subversion and it is a horrible thing for their intended victims to learn of this? How so?

be well and have a good one

As for why Trump now I keep going back and forth with he is a patsy just playing a roll for the elite's agenda and to get us divided and fighting that one side is better than the other. We now have red and blue MAGAs.

Hillary started the election campaign with accusing Trump of being a Russian asset and she provided no evidence that he was. But to this day blue MAGA still believe that he was and that Putin had something on him that made Trump do his bidding.

Now blue MAGA has decided and again with no evidence that Trump is a traitor to the country and is responsible for the CIA losing their undercover agents around the world. All it takes anymore is for some media patsy to take stenography from the deep state and slighly hint that Trump did something bad and it’s become truth.

Just remember that Trump alone didn’t put himself in office. A powerful group of money’d interests backed him and then got their people into his administration. If Trump was truly an American first type guy and wanted to bring the troops home why would he have appointed John effing Bolton again? Or any of the other worst of the worst that wants America to go forth and conquer? Pelosi bitched about Trump daily and said that he was a dangerous person but then she gave him everything he put in front of her. Wow way to stand against him Nancy!

And for gawd’s sake if we did finally get rid of Trump why have democrats kept him in the news every fcking day since he left office? One-six has played out so now we have classified papers-gate.

Just my 2 cents and I could be wrong, but everything seems too fishy to me.

If you’re interested here’s the New York slimes article on how Trump may have put intelligence assets at risk.

In what may be the most shocking story to emerge from the entire Mar-a-Lago document scandal, The New York Times is reporting that officials at intelligence agencies fear that among the classified information Donald Trump stole was details on U.S. assets embedded in foreign countries. The names, locations, and even the existence of such assets is among the most guarded secrets of the nation. But something mysterious has been happening over the last few years, with an unusual number of foreign sources being killed or arrested.

In the past, officials have worried that documents leaked by outlets like WikiLeaks might, either purposely or intentionally, reveal the identity of U.S. sources, putting their lives at risk. But now, intelligence agencies have a greater concern: A man who has a horde of stolen documents, connections to numerous hostile governments, and a frequently expressed disdain for both sources and the intelligence community. Put it all together, and you get one of the most amazing front pages in recent years.

It’s being treated as gospel on the Orange Man Bad blog. The 1st link includes a link to an article that states unequivocally that Russia made Trump an asset 40 years ago. No evidence, but plenty of hearsay. Tried in the press and found guilty. Let’s lock him up without a trial. And yay they got a dig in their arch-villain Assange. Let’s lock him up too.

ETA the last link has a Russian speaking Ukrainian lady doing bad things. This story just popped up a few days ago.

—

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sat, 08/27/2022 - 6:52pm

Agree

@enhydra lutris

I just find it sad that so many people are now supporting our intelligence agencies after decades of being wary of them. In 2016 I posted an essay on how lots of ex military and intelligence goons were running on the dem side and how that was getting people who once were against their actions were admitting them into the fold just because they were democrats. And all it takes now for someone to be guilty of something is for a media mouthpiece to say they are guilty. Yeah those embracers of the military-intelligence industrial complex were once dead set against everything they represent.

And the shitlibs are in a real conundrum. A Ukrainian woman who speaks Russian went to Trump’s Florida club and is being labeled a Russian spy. No reason why she’s definitely a spy except she misrepresented who she was…I’m not digging into the story though because I remember that other Russian woman who represented the NRA was also labeled a spy and spent 18 months in prison. Boy did they hate her. Maybe TMI, but tired of seeing shitlibs go from rabbit hole to another.

—

Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.

Submitted by doh1304 on Sun, 08/28/2022 - 12:56am

In 2004 or 6

@enhydra lutris
29 (? my number might be a little off, it was 28 years ago) Iraq veterans ran as anti war candidates for congress. Al Franken, then an Air America radio personality, called them "the fighting Dems" though 1 was a Republican. Guess how many won? (hint: he was the Republican)

—

On to Biden since 1973

Submitted by Fishtroller 02 on Sat, 08/27/2022 - 11:41am

Hi Crazytimes..actually your name describes very well the times

we are in. Having been a student of history for much of my 70 years, I can't answer the very good questions you are asking except to offer this.... there have been many times in the history of the US where generations have felt the same way. Crazy times.... awful public figures... lost of trust in institutions and government and a feeling that they are living in the worst of times with no hope for the future. I remember that my grandfather felt like the world was going to hell in a handbasket because his granddaughter was crazy about the Beatles. He resented their instant wealth because he worked his way up out of a low income background over years of sweat etc. and they just got rich quick from lousy music! So I try to not fall into that elderly view that now is the worse of all times in history.
There are lots of reasons for "Trump" just like there were a lot of reasons for Nixon and Bush (who I think still takes the prize for the worst President ever). And ever since the Democrats abandoned their roots (Read "Listen Liberal" by Frank Thomas) we have had no choices politically at all. There was a glimmer of hope with Bernie, but he caved. I think we have Trump because of Obama and Hillary Clinton and their incredible arrogance, but that's just my POV.
The one thing that this generation has a lot of confusing pressure from that past generations did not have is the information/tech world. I worry a lot about how this is going to be for my granddaughters, who don't have cell phones yet (a good thing) but will soon. We are all on information overload and it's really hard to sort out truth from fiction. I would just advise being very careful with sources by being skeptical with all of them, and try not to get caught up in the world of conspiracy thinking.
Best of luck!
And don't lurk so much... you have something to contribute!

—

"Without the right to offend, freedom of speech does not exist." Taslima Nasrin

Submitted by Crazytimes on Sat, 08/27/2022 - 11:44am

Thanks for the replies. I

Thanks for the replies. I will admit, I was up late and having a few drinks last night so maybe my post didn't have a point (after re-reading it). I'm just glad that there are people out there who see what is going on here. I enjoy reading you alls posts and seeing what is going on through a non-corporate news filter. I didn't say so last night, but after Obama I went through a libertarian phase. Mostly because I was so pissed and disappointed. I thought f-government. If they aren't going to help people or hold people accountable, then I'd rather not have any at all. Of course now I have swung back the other direction, but following politics is so disheartening. We should have the best schools in the world and the best healthcare too. Regular people need more than crumbs!

—

If it was easy, everyone would do it.

Submitted by Lookout on Sat, 08/27/2022 - 12:03pm

putting your faith in electoral politics will...

@Crazytimes
be a disappointment, me thinks.
The US government does not represent the interests of the majority of the country’s citizens, but is instead ruled by those of the rich and powerful, a 2014 study from Princeton and Northwestern Universities has concluded.

The Princeton Study indicates that we are an oligarchy not a democracy.
"The central point that emerges from our research is that economic elites and organized groups representing business interests have substantial independent impacts on US government policy, while mass-based interest groups and average citizens have little or no independent influence."

"When a majority of citizens disagrees with economic elites and/or with organized interests, they generally lose. Moreover, because of the strong status quo bias built into the US political system, even when fairly large majorities of Americans favour policy change, they generally do not get it."

The study verifies with ample empirical data what I have witnessed during the course of my own life as an American over the past four decades. There has been a silent coup d’etat of the monied class, an American oligarchy. Names such as Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, David Rockefeller, Sheldon Adelson (main financier of Mitt Romney for President), the Koch Brothers (main financiers of the Tea Party political movement), George H.W. Bush and family. The top 1% have reshaped the fundamentals of American life, culture and above all politics. A decision to wage war today against Iraq, Afghanistan or Syria depends not on the will of average Americans. Obama was elected on a pledge to close the US Army torture center at Guantanamo and six years on has yet to do. He won a Nobel Peace Prize in his first month and proceeded to wage more war in Afghanistan, Egypt, Libya and most recently Syria and Ukraine.
https://journal-neo.org/2014/11/11/princeton-makes-it-official-usa-has-b...

So I must conclude electoral politics will not address our problems but exacerbate them. YMMV (your mileage may vary)

—

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by Crazytimes on Sat, 08/27/2022 - 12:33pm

@Lookout believe me when I say I

@Lookout believe me when I say I am very aware of that. I just feel bad for my own children. It will not get better for them and is likely to get much worse. My oldest has had his high school experience ruined by COVID and I honestly don't think he is recovered yet. Meanwhile here I am not knowing how to help him. Sigh. I often wonder when will people reach their breaking point? When will people stand up together and say enough?

#5 be a disappointment, me thinks. The US government does not represent the interests of the majority of the country’s citizens, but is instead ruled by those of the rich and powerful, a 2014 study from Princeton and Northwestern Universities has concluded. The Princeton Study indicates that we are an oligarchy not a democracy. "The central point that emerges from our research is that economic elites and organized groups representing business interests have substantial independent impacts on US government policy, while mass-based interest groups and average citizens have little or no independent influence." "When a majority of citizens disagrees with economic elites and/or with organized interests, they generally lose. Moreover, because of the strong status quo bias built into the US political system, even when fairly large majorities of Americans favour policy change, they generally do not get it." The study verifies with ample empirical data what I have witnessed during the course of my own life as an American over the past four decades. There has been a silent coup d’etat of the monied class, an American oligarchy. Names such as Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, David Rockefeller, Sheldon Adelson (main financier of Mitt Romney for President), the Koch Brothers (main financiers of the Tea Party political movement), George H.W. Bush and family. The top 1% have reshaped the fundamentals of American life, culture and above all politics. A decision to wage war today against Iraq, Afghanistan or Syria depends not on the will of average Americans. Obama was elected on a pledge to close the US Army torture center at Guantanamo and six years on has yet to do. He won a Nobel Peace Prize in his first month and proceeded to wage more war in Afghanistan, Egypt, Libya and most recently Syria and Ukraine. https://journal-neo.org/2014/11/11/princeton-makes-it-official-usa-has-b... So I must conclude electoral politics will not address our problems but exacerbate them. YMMV (your mileage may vary)

—

If it was easy, everyone would do it.

Submitted by studentofearth on Sat, 08/27/2022 - 1:00pm

We should not forget the habit of donors switching which

@Lookout horse to back in the political races.

The Koch Brothers abandoned the Tea Party after they successfully started electing grassroots type candidates who attacked the Republican establishment.

Koch Brothers Now Supporting Hillary Clinton Counter Culture July 22, 2016

The Koch-led network of billionaires (who rely upon hiring academia and media for manipulating voters), and the Rove-led network of billionaires (who rely far more heavily upon garnering Wall Street money and Evangelical clergy for manipulating voters), have long been the two financial mainstays of the Republican Party. The Kochs have now made unmistakably clear that they want Hillary Clinton to become the next President (and, thus, academics and the media will overwhelmingly support Hillary). Previously, there was question as to whether the Kochs would go so far as to help a Democrat; but, now, there is no serious doubt about it: they already do (though as quietly as possible, and not in their own — often lying — mere words).

The Rove-led billionaires’ faction are also strongly inclined to prefer Hillary, but can’t afford to alienate the Republican electorate, and so they will continue to support other Republicans but not Trump. (Consequently, Ron Johnson, for example, still can get their money.) They aren’t as emphatic about their backing of Hillary as the Koch-led faction is.

Not sure of the timeline when Adelson dropped financial support for Romney, switching to Trump. He went on medical leave from his company the day after Jan 6 reason provided to battle non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Sheldon Adelson, Trump's Biggest Donor, Dead at 87 Newsweek Jan 12, 2021.

Adelson and his wife Miriam were among the top Trump donors during his 2016 presidential campaign and were the biggest contributors to his 2020 re-election effort, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission and as reported by Bloomberg.
...
"I'm against very wealthy people attempting to or influencing elections," he told Forbes magazine in 2012. "But as long as it's doable I'm going to do it," he added.

Adelson was also a prominent supporter of Israel and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
...
He had been on medical leave since January 7 as he battled non-Hodgkin's lymphoma./blockquote>

#5 be a disappointment, me thinks. The US government does not represent the interests of the majority of the country’s citizens, but is instead ruled by those of the rich and powerful, a 2014 study from Princeton and Northwestern Universities has concluded. The Princeton Study indicates that we are an oligarchy not a democracy. "The central point that emerges from our research is that economic elites and organized groups representing business interests have substantial independent impacts on US government policy, while mass-based interest groups and average citizens have little or no independent influence." "When a majority of citizens disagrees with economic elites and/or with organized interests, they generally lose. Moreover, because of the strong status quo bias built into the US political system, even when fairly large majorities of Americans favour policy change, they generally do not get it." The study verifies with ample empirical data what I have witnessed during the course of my own life as an American over the past four decades. There has been a silent coup d’etat of the monied class, an American oligarchy. Names such as Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, David Rockefeller, Sheldon Adelson (main financier of Mitt Romney for President), the Koch Brothers (main financiers of the Tea Party political movement), George H.W. Bush and family. The top 1% have reshaped the fundamentals of American life, culture and above all politics. A decision to wage war today against Iraq, Afghanistan or Syria depends not on the will of average Americans. Obama was elected on a pledge to close the US Army torture center at Guantanamo and six years on has yet to do. He won a Nobel Peace Prize in his first month and proceeded to wage more war in Afghanistan, Egypt, Libya and most recently Syria and Ukraine. https://journal-neo.org/2014/11/11/princeton-makes-it-official-usa-has-b... So I must conclude electoral politics will not address our problems but exacerbate them. YMMV (your mileage may vary)

—

Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sat, 08/27/2022 - 1:17pm

I’m with you on canceling student loans

The money given to bailout the banks should have gone to the people that the banks screwed. That was one of the reasons occupy Wall Street was formed. And at the beginning of the epidemic congress not only gave rich people $4.5 trillion they also allowed them to take out millions in loans and many of them have been wiped out. It sure seems that there is plenty of money to help people under crushing and predatory student loans. Many people have been paying for over a decade or 2 and now owe more than they borrowed. Biden can also get congress to change the bankruptcy law to allow people to discharge them through bankruptcy. Instead whenever someone does that they get sued by the Biden administration.

And for gawd’s sake make college affordable again so people don’t have to take them out in the first place.

—

Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sun, 08/28/2022 - 12:35am

This…

@snoopydawg

wild that America tells 17-yr-old kids they can only succeed by accepting a lifetime of debt in order to get a college education & then blame them for being unable to pay it back — all while we hand bank/tech/oil CEOs & NFL owners bailouts/subsidies anytime they want cash

— David Sirota (@davidsirota) August 28, 2022

Half of America sees no problem with the constant subsidies and bailouts for the rich while bitching about every fcking cent that helps the American people. My friend once again brought up Biden’s canceling some student loan debt while ignoring how many times we’ve bailed out the rich.I’m sick of people who groan about helping those who need help while turning a blind eye to those who don’t.

—

Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.

Submitted by Crazytimes on Sun, 08/28/2022 - 11:50pm

@snoopydawg YES!!!!!!

@snoopydawg YES!!!!!!

—

If it was easy, everyone would do it.

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Sat, 08/27/2022 - 5:48pm

hello and welcome, Crazytimes.

two key things to remember in times like these:

For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong.

~~ H.L. Menken

Life is too important to be taken seriously

~~ Oscar Wilde

Meanwhile:

Be yourself. Everyone else is taken.

also Wilde

be well and have a good one

—

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by usefewersyllables on Sat, 08/27/2022 - 6:20pm

Count me as another

hello and welcome!

Another recovering yellow dog here. Along with a lot of other folks, I no longer believe in electoral politics as a solution. Which is very, very sad….

Glad you are here, along with the other folks who may have also come and haven’t weighed in yet. Welcome all!

—

Twice bitten, permanently shy.

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 08/27/2022 - 6:49pm

Welcome, CT! (abbreviation, not accusation LOL!)

Top Donors run the government. What is the point in me voting for candidates they selected?
Some think going full force in voting local is the way to correct things.
I disagree.
Money flows beneath the radar in city and county elections.
I never donate, I never attend rallies and meet ups. I may go vote, ignore almost every contest on the ballot, just vote for a candidate for sheriff, or something like county judge. That is because I live in a small county, know these candidates personally. Sheriffs and judges affect my work. In other words, I have a personal stake in them. State, national, I don't.
I, like others here, get at least interested in new parties, but interest starts to fade once they trend toward D-Lite, or R-Lite. I wish we had at least 20 parties, but I wish for a cure for cancer.
My love of this site is bringing forth discussion of current events.
Bring it on!

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981